| Title | Understanding Freshwater Mussel Distribution, Abundance, and Demography in the South Umpqua River Basin, Oregon: Impacts of Land Use and Stream Hydraulics |
| Publication Type | Thesis |
| Year of Publication | 2021 |
| Authors | Johnson, Laura |
| Academic Department | Environmental Studies Program |
| Degree | M.S. |
| Pagination | 61 p. |
| University | University of Oregon |
| City | Eugene, Or. |
| Type of Work | Masters Thesis |
| Call Number | OSU Libraries: Digital Open Access |
| Keywords | Asian clams = Corbicula fluminea, Chinook salmon = Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, Coho salmon = Oncorhynchus kisutch, Cow Creek, cutthroat trout = Oncorhynchus clarki, depleted populations, geographical distribution, human impacts, introduced species, logging, Myrtle Creek, Pacific salmonids = Oncorhynchus spp., population biology, South Umpqua River, steelhead trout = Oncorhynchus mykiss, Western pearl mussel = Margaritifera falcata |
| Notes | Despite their many valuable ecosystem services and their threatened status, freshwater mussels are not well studied. This Master’s thesis represents an attempt to rectify this situation in the South Umpqua watershed. “The percentage of forest cover within the drainage basin area was the best predictor of mussel abundance, and indicates that the cumulative impact of anthropogenic land use may be degrading mussel habitats. Our data also suggested a relationship between invasive Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) and suppressed mussel abundances” (from the Abstract) The author suggests monitoring of the invasive Asian clam, outreach to educate land owners about the importance of freshwater mussels, and wider riparian buffer zones to protect the mussels. |
| URL | https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/xmlui/handle/1794/26175 |